Fifty years after the Watson Roadsters so dominated the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, car builder, crew chief and Indy of Fame member A. J. Watson rises every day and departs from his home just a few blocks from the Speedway and heads out to his shop in a suburb of Indianapolis. At 85 years young there seems to be no lack of enthusiasm for whatever the most current project is in his shop, surrounded by many of the same tools and equipment used in the creation of his magical Watson Roadsters. A vintage race car repair or restoration may be underway or a 255 Offy might be strapped to the dyno ready to roar to life. Lunch is a constant with a half dozen or more pals from the racing scene, many of the same bunch that crewed under Watson in the 50's up thru the 70's. While his actual work hours at the shop may be less today than those legendary tales from the past, an amazing amount of work seems to come out of this shop, with walls covered in vintage photos that draw you in to times past. All 23 of Watson's Indy Roadsters, along with his championship winning Dirt Track Cars, were constructed in his Southern California shop, an area where it seems the vast majority of winning race cars originated after World War II. A. J. Watson first came to Indy with a short budget and limited success in the late Forties. His talents as an exceptional race car mechanic were quickly recognized and his early years on winning teams produced great results. A trip to Victory Circle at Indy came in 1956 with his first Watson Roadster built for team owner John Zink. And from here the record of the winningest car builder of all time began with Indy triumphs in 59,60,62,63 and 64, all performed in Offy powered Watson Roadsters. The 1959 and 1960 years at Indy not only saw victory but back to back 1-2 finishes for Watson built Roadsters. The final win for a front engine Indy car came in 1964 with A. J. Foyt bringing his Watson first across the "yard of bricks". Watson's long term leadership of the Leader Card Racing team out of Milwaukee resulted in a string of USAC National Championships for both Asphalt and Dirt Cars. Watson Roadsters so dominated the Indianapolis 500 that in 1963, 18 of the 33 car field were Watsons or Watson authorized copies of his winning design and engineering. |
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| Of the 23 original Watson's built, 14 of them led the 500 on different occasions. The 10
year run of Watson Roadster success was accomplished with a car that actually changed very little over the years except for quite minor fine tuning of this proven formula.
There is not much argument that the "Roadster Era" at Indy was the high point of all time in Speedway racing and A. J. Watson assembled the talent to build the most beautiful and competitive cars of that special time period. All 23 of his Roadsters exist today, some in museums, a number in private display collections and a few still cutting a line in vintage racing events. A few classic Offy powered Indy Roadsters wheel to wheel on a track is a sight and sound few will ever forget. Along with his Indy Hall of Fame recognition A. J. Watson was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996, a fitting tribute to a man that brought so much to a sport with his creations and team leadership. Thank You A. J. for giving us so much excitement and your lifetime of dedication to the American racing scene.
   
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